My shorts and skate shoes do not make me any less female than a woman in her sundress and sandals. I no longer feel out of place when I go to work without a face full of make up. But by the same token I no longer feel outrageously self conscious when I do put make up on.

We’re so caught up in this idea that we have to protect our independence, that we’ve quelled our traditional instincts, because we no longer think we’re allowed to have them. (Unless you genuinely don’t have those traditional instincts, which is totally fine too.)

You smell like your first night in high heels, like the envelop of a hug from your best friend. You smell like the excitement of prom night, the back seat of a limousine, the thrill of your first kiss.